Andy Murray smashed an old pal at the Australian Open yesterday - then set his sights on rivals who have doubted his right to be considered a favourite to lift the title.

Spain's Marcel Granollers came through the junior ranks with him six years ago, but never got a sniff of a second-round upset as the Scot did the business in straight sets 6-4 6-2 6-2.

Victory underlined Murray's championship credentials and he hit back at Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic - the loudest critics of his 'favourite' tag.

Murray, 21, said: "There are big contradictions here. They say there is a lot of pressure on them but people are saying they are not the favourites. They want to be favourites, though, and by saying that they are putting more pressure back on themselves.

"I don't understand the whole thing. I have played well enough in the last six or seven months to be in that group. Whether I should be the favourite, I don't know.

"Federer and Nadal have most experience and probably merit being favourites, but I have played very well in the last few months and won against them."

There will be little love lost in the third round tomorrow when the No.4 seed tackles Austrian Jurgen Melzer - the pair have serious history.

Melzer came within two points of eliminating Murray in straight sets in the third round of last year's US Open in August before the British No.1 staged an astonishing recovery to win in five sets on his way to the final.

A fortnight later Murray, riled by suggestions from Melzer that he might choke atWimbledon in the Davis Cup clash between the countries, took his opponent apart in four sets - although the Austrians won the tie. Melzer, seeded 31 here, can certainly play but admitted he will have to perform out of his skin to prevent Murray entering the second week of a tournament many expect him to win.

Certainly, he displayed ominous form in Melbourne yesterday, taking just 110 minutes to get his work done and Melzer was among those suitably impressed.

Murray was satisfied and said: "I've known and played against Marcel since we were in the juniors at 13 and 14 but his game has changed since then, so I had to adapt and I'm pleased to come through. I had a few dips in concentration but that match gotmy feet moving and I thought I got better as it went on.

"The conditions were very different, playing at night. That slows the court down because the temperatures drop - but I played well on it.

"Melzer is very tough if he plays well but, mentally, the US Open was very tough for him.

"He told me then he had played one of the best matches of his career and I still came through it. I know I'm going to have to play well to win the match."

Melzer said: "He is a great player and probably at the peak of his career. Andy has beaten all the top guys coming here and, for me, he is the No.1 contender to win this tournament.

"But I was two points away from beating him at the US Open, playing an unbelievable match.

"I outplayed him for three sets and it is not easy to do that."

Murray's brother Jamie moaned he had "served like a dog" after crashing out of the doubles with Eric Butorac at the first hurdle. They lost 6-4 6-4 to Nicolas Lapentti and Tommy Robredo.

Murray, 22, said: "I didn't really help my partner out too much at all. I lost my serve something like four times so we were always kind of fighting to recover."

Federer and Nadal merit being the favourites, but I have won against them both in recent months - ANDY MURRAY